Getting Down To Business Part 1: Encouragement

Getting Down To Business

With today's economy being what it is, many people have started to take their lives back, sort of return to the American Pioneering Dream. The Early American Pioneering Dreamer that was new to this great country of ours knew what they wanted. They could start, and develop their own business; work for themselves was a common thing. Al beit, a farmer, tradesman, banker, home based business, and other do-it- yourself ideals is what American Dreams was founded upon. Many people are turning their ideas, hobbies and interests into careers. I was always told that if you did something that you loved, you would never work a day in your life. I believe that to be so true that I encourage my own children to grasp that belief. I want them to suceed in anything they want to do. I have three sons who are so different but yet alike in many ways.

My oldest has expressed interest in the Aerospace Enginnering Field and enjoys reading up on anything and everything Aerospace, this is fascinating for him. My second son has always enjoyed arts of all type and in a way, I would label him as a "Mixed-Media Artist." I don't like to categorize my kids but I can see my children getting jobs or doing careers in those exact fields.

  My third son is a free spirit and takes interest in whatever is around him. He enjoys doing what I do, what friends do, family and the rest of society. He is a sort of nomad who is not content in staying in one place too long. Some may call it ADD, but I just call it an interest in life and humanity. Today, he told me that he wished God gave him wings. When I asked him why, he said so that he could fly. I respond back to him that God gave man the ability (Yes, he knows the meaning behind the word at five years old, we don't baby or lessen words around our kids. I am not critizing anyone that may do this, it's just the way my husband and I are.) to create airplanes, helicopter, and rockets so that they, too, could fly. He ran to our bookshelf and grabbed his brothers book on airplanes that was a gift to my oldest son from his Grandpa who is an Aerospace Engineer. My youngest asks if Grandpa could fly, and I said yes. He asked where his Grandpa's wings were because he couldn't remember seeing them. I chuckle because how innocent and interested children are and can be. As we get older, many of us loose that innocence and the wonder of why we can't do certain things. I know that if one is encouraged enough to do what they love then they will enjoy their life.

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The Bucket List...Do You Have One?

   Hello Dear Friends,I figured it was time to jot down some thoughts and ideas for personal reasons and to just "Put it out there." Sure the list makes me vulnerable but then it shows people that I do have reasons for doing things. If you haven't already watched the movie "The Bucket List" I highly recommend it. The premise is these 2 guys meet who do not have a long time to live and so one of the guys writes a list down on a normal piece of paper of things he'd like to do before he "kicks the bucket." The other guy finds his list and starts adding to it and says "We can do this. We have just months the doctor says, we can go out with our guns blazing...." Or at least something like that. Over the years, I have created all sorts of "bucket lists." Sure, I did not call it that but, they were lists that I created and shared with some of my closest friends and family. It made me accountable. When I was in my twenties (32 now) I had the dream of getting my first book published by age 30, and shared that dream and goal with another fellow author. Well, that dream was accomplished at age 28 (3 years before my 5 year deadline). Setting these goals and perhaps posting or sharing them holds us accountable. Life is so short and precious. My list consists of some family goals and things to do within the next few years, but it mainly deals with my own dreams and goals. I know that if I accomplish them, it will not only help me but everyone that comes into my life.

   A few years ago, I was flipping channels and stopped on the Oprah show to watch this guy (didn't know his name at the time) who turned out to be a professor at Carnegie Melon University named Randy Pausch and he was giving his "Last Lecture." The last lecture is something that is often asked of teachers, professionals, and others to give either at the end of a school year, retirement and other things about things you may have done better, wish you may have accomplished etc. Turns out when Randy Pausch was giving his "last lecture" someone recorded his lecture and posted it on Youtube. I will let you watch it, because it will inspire you. He wrote a book about his last lecture and it is one everyone should read at least once, or perhaps give to a student getting ready to graduate. These are the movies and people that will change your life.

   If you haven't sat down recently to write what you may want to do with your precious life or perhaps how you may want to be remembered, I ask that you challenge yourself and do it. Life goals are important to have and give your life meaning. I may or may not post my own bucket list, but wanted to at least get you started on one, perhaps it may to smile at a stranger today or say hello. All it takes is one step to change your life and the lives of others around you. One more "Youtube" moment, I was looking for inspirational videos and actually typed those words in and came across the following video, and it was remarkable. I hope you find it as inspirational as I did. So, my question to you today is, do you have a bucket list?